More than half agree that marijuana should be legal

5-in-10 think amnesty should be granted
to those charged with marijuana offences

Toronto, April 26th
– In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ amongst
1479 Canadian voters, more than half (53%) say that they agree that marijuana
should be legal in Canada. (38%) disagree, fewer than 1-in-10 report they do
not know (9%).

Respondents most
likely to say that marijuana should be legal include those aged 34 and younger
(64%), males (57%), earning $80,000-$100,000 (58%) and the most wealthy (60%),
living in BC (65%), and supporting the Green Party (68%). Those with some
college or university (54%), or a college/university (55%) or post-graduate
degree (54%) are also likely to agree that marijuana should be legal in Canada.

Respondents most
likely to say that marijuana should not be legal include those aged 65 and over
(48%), earning $20,000-$40,000 (41%) or $60,000-$80,000 (41%), living in
Alberta (48%), and supporting the Conservatives (56%). The least educated (43%)
are also most likely to disagree that marijuana should be legal in Canada.

Half think the government should protect
those charged with marijuana-related offences if they wouldn’t be illegal
following its legalization

(50%) say that the
government should protect those charged with marijuana-related offences from
prosecution if their offences would not be illegal after marijuana is
legalized. (33%) said the government should not protect individuals in those
situations, with (17%) saying they do not know.

Respondents most
likely to suggest the Federal Government should protect these individuals
include those aged 34 and younger (58%), earning $80,000-$100,000 (63%), living
in BC (58%), and supporting the NDP (61%). Those with some college or
university (52%), or a college/university (51%) or post-graduate degree (50%)
are also likely to say that the government should protect these individuals.

Respondents most
likely to suggest the Federal government should not protect these individuals
include those aged 45-54 (38%), earning $60,000-$80,000 (42%), living in
Alberta (40%), and supporting the Conservatives (45%).

It is worth noting
that Conservative voters are divided on the issue of Amnesty. While (45%) are
opposed to protection for these individuals, (44%) are in favour of it.

"Marijuana
legalization is coming, and the majority agrees with it. What’s more
interesting is that half of voters would see those charged with marijuana offences
protected from prosecution if their crimes wouldn’t be crimes after it’s
legalized,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.

Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.